New Hawaii Service Adds Up to Over 1,000 Daily Seats in 2012

Press Releases

November 16th, 2011

- OAK Becomes a Major Gateway to the Hawaiian Islands -

Oakland, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2011) — Alaska Airlines has announced new daily nonstop service to Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, from Oakland International Airport (OAK) beginning April 10, 2012. Hawaiian Airlines also plans to bring more paradise to OAK by adding seats in the New Year. Combined, the two airlines will offer six peak day nonstops from OAK to the Hawaiian Islands in 2012.

Alaska’s daily service to Honolulu is its sixth nonstop destination served from OAK and the fourth Hawaiian Island destination, securing the airline’s place as the airport’s second largest carrier. Alaska Airlines currently offers daily service to Kahului, Maui, and will expand to daily service to Kona, on the Big Island, and Lihue, Kauai, beginning March 12, 2012. Alaska also has multiple daily flights to Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.

Hawaiian Airlines flies daily nonstop service from OAK to its Honolulu hub, and will increase its seasonal nonstop service to Maui to year-round in early 2012. The double-daily B767-300 wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft offer a comfortable flight for passengers.

“This spring, there will be more than 1,000 peak day seats leaving to the Hawaiian Islands from Oakland International,” said John Albrecht, Aviation Marketing & Communications Manager for the Port of Oakland, which owns and operates OAK. “Given that the first transoceanic flights from North America to the Hawaiian Islands originated from OAK in 1927, it is fitting that Oakland International becomes a major gateway to Hawaii today. Customers tell us every day that there is no better way to begin a Hawaiian vacation than from Oakland due to easy airport access, excellent customer service and on time flights,” he added.

The number of airlines seats to Hawaii has rebounded from the recession, and is more than quadrupled from the 264 daily seats offered in summer 2008. OAK has emerged as a major mainland gateway to the Hawaiian Islands, joining a select group of U.S. airports with flights to the four major islands.

About Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawai‘i, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 North America Airline Satisfaction StudiesSM. Visit alaskaair.com for reservations and information.

About Hawaiian Airlines: Now in its 82nd year of continuous service in Hawaii, Hawaiian is the largest provider of passenger air service to Hawaii from the state's primary visitor markets on the U.S. mainland. Hawaiian offers nonstop service to Hawaii from more U.S. gateway cities (10) than any other airline, as well as service to Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, American Samoa, and Tahiti. Hawaiian also provides approximately 150 daily jet flights between the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com.

About the Port of Oakland, CA, USA: The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports nearly 50,000 jobs in the region and over 800,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.